Willowcreek Sugarhouse 2018

[Dill]

Wow, we didn't get hit that hard over here, never even lost power. These storms really change rapidly in a couple miles. Hope you get it all fixed easily.

[red maples]

spent another 2 hrs in the woods this afternoon found another tree snapped in 1/2 over the main and across 2 laterals. got that straightened up. I think I got everything back in close to pretty good order... good enough anyway!!! I still need to get across the street I think that needs to thaw a little before I can get at it and see if I can fix that. the main it on the edge of a swamp since its the lowest point and there is a bunch of tall brush that is leaning over the main line so its sagging pretty good and only one branch broke so not too bad over there.

yes very sticky snow. it kept going back and forth and the temp kept going up and down a degree or 2 for a few hrs which was just enough to get a little snow in the trees then it froze enough with the wind to for all the wet snow to stick and it was just too much throw in a stiff breeze and lots of popping and cracking!!!

turned on the vacuum and its at 26" but I know there is some frozen stuff so have to wait for it all to thaw to see if there is anything else leaking.

glad you all faired better. lots of clean up in the woods this summer. more firewood!!!

[Russell Lampron]

You always need firewood but busted maple trees isn't the way that you want to get it. Glad your up and running again.

[red maples]

agreed russ...

Sap has been running a little strange here. I was definitely expecting more sap but 1/2 my woods weren't producing because there were colder since the Sun doesn't hit them good until the afternoon. buckets on road and field edges running weird too I have some smaller trees about 10" out producing 18" and 20" trees and other bigger trees that are running like crazy. almost perfect sap weather here finally but need maybe 2 or 3 degrees warmer day temps. but I will take it.

its amazing what good sap weather will do. My syrup has lightened up to almost amber and sugar is 1.75 / 1.80 which is the highest it has been in 2 years maybe 3 years. I hope it keeps up that way fingers crossed. Its nice when sugar is that high RO goes faster and man you make alot of syrup on so much less sap. I love it.

about 2:00 just as things started running really hard the vac dropped to 19" but needed to collect everything else so ran and did that then back in the woods. it must have been iced up. found 1 tap out 2 really hollow trees. a few little chews her and there and darn red squirrel chews again had to replace 15 ft of tubing its in the same spot as usual because they can walk along the 5/16th tubing and start chewing. It still had ice in it. I might invest in a roll of that metal wrapped stuff just for that section. and it figures is all the way in the farthest back section of the woods.

[Russell Lampron]

It's amazing how you always have the most trouble in the area that's the hardest to get to. The sap has gotten sweeter here too, not great but better.

[red maples]

that 1.75 was an average of bucket and vacuum there just happened to be alot of bucket sap in that run. its averaging about 1.4-1.5 or so right now. with these really good sap temp since the storm the sap is really nice and the last draw of last night was at 43 on just 6 from amber. might get that tonight. and so aromatic... syrup was some of the best I have made in some time. hoping tonight is just as good!!!

Not fun collecting buckets in 2 feet of snow but the trails are cut so today should be much easier. heading out to collect now!!!

looks like a freeze up for the weekend just a few more confections to finish some cleaning and snow removal and should be all set hoping I can get everything done this weekend so there is no stress for the week!!!

[red maples]

aint got nothing since friday... quick boil on Friday. its 33* highest temp since saturday(34). turned on the vac pump for s&g's and got a few gallons. honestly I think someone screwed up and switched february and march. It has given me some time to get stuff done for maple weekend. So I am ahead as far as that goes. its weird because the sun is warm but the air isn't. looks like it might start to warm tomorrow a little each day right into maple weekend don;t know when the trees are gonna start flowing again from the very cold nights.

[Dill]

Yea its nice in the sun but its pretty darn cold out. I had 4 sunday morning and 5 this morning. Even the cows were hiding in the barn this morning with that wind.

[Russell Lampron]

I haven't gotten anything here since Thursday night. It looks like it should start running again tomorrow and then continue on through Maple Weekend. It would be nice to have a Maple Weekend with fresh sap to boil for a change.

[Dill]

I boiled sunday of maple weekend last year. Saturday we boiled water cause we were froze up solid